Yasmin Shiraz

The Female Condom In Action

According to the Washington Post, the District of Columbia will be giving out free female condoms over the next three weeks as a part of a campaign that will distribute 500,000 condoms through high schools, beauty salons, and convenience stores.The campaign is funded by MAC cosmetics. (Get ya lip gloss on!)

This initiative is aimed at reducing the spread of HIV & AIDS throughout the city. In 2008, a report said that DC had a 3% HIV/AIDS rate which is considered a major epidemic.

HIV/AIDS infection is the leading cause of death for black women 25-34.

What makes me glad about this is that there are women who are faithful and want their “sexually risky” partners to wear condoms but they refuse. Now that women have their own condom, they can utilize it. It gives women a sense of power over their bodies and in the bedroom. Stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS is the best way to control the disease. I call this “positive progress” because for years only the male condom was available and even after the female condom was available it was not widely promoted. So, this is definitely progress.

Women do not be intimidated by the female condom. This is about our empowerment and tools to save our lives. As a matter of fact, I plan on going to DC next week and see how easy it is for me to get a female condom.   I’m going to see if this campaign is exactly what they are saying in the papers.  I’ll keep you posted.

Read the full article here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35736237/ns/health-more_health_news/

Lil's Waynes drawers are showing & JayZ's t-shirt are covering his!

Today I visited a suburban school in Northern, Virginia to talk about my career as an author / filmmaker. I showed the students the six books that I’ve written and I even showed them the movie poster to my first film, Can She Be Saved? As an extra bonus (in case they didn’t like my books)–I brought a old copy of my magazine, Mad Rhythms. They listened to me talk about my books and my film, but they were most excited when I told them that I had interviewed Jay-Z, been to Diddy’s house in the Hamptons and they were even more excited when I told them that I had gone to Lil’ Wayne’s 16th Birthday party. Huh? These young people were in 1st through 5th grade! They were so excited when I mentioned the name “Lil Wayne.”

I guess in my mind, I love music so much, I think that its a language that is spoken only to me, but the reality is that music is a universal language that is spoken to all people. When I mentioned to the young people that I had interviewed Jay-Z, there were all sorts of “wow”s and sighs in the room. I knew Jay-Z was really, really hot with Hard Knock Life, but is he still that hot? Apparently. That was something that surprised me today.

I had a great time inspiring and talking to young people about my career as a writer, author, filmmaker. I love it so much that it never feels like work.

As I perused the internet tonight, I came across a magazine entitled, ARISE. According to their publicist, it’s the “leading global African-themed style and cultural magazine.” I don’t know how long its been around, but I’ve never even heard of it.

This week ARISE selected top African designers Black Coffee, Loin Cloth and Ashes along with Deola Sagoe to showcase Fall/Winter 2010 designs during the publication’s AFRICAN COLLECTIVE PART III Mercedes Benz Fashion Week runway presentation.

On Saturday, February 13th at 8 p.m., show producer Jan Malan will transform Bryant Park’s largest venue, The Tent, into a living African landscape with elaborate staging inspired by award-winning poet Ben Okri. Models will walk through a virtual day and night on the great continent flush with excitement as South Africa gears up to host the FIFA World Cup and many states celebrate a half century of independence as well as economies poised for rapid growth.

I encourage all of us to check out ARISE and see what they are all about. As a former magazine publisher, I have love for anybody who decided to walk that line. Its not the easiest job that you can take on. Here’s a link to their website: www.arisemagazine.net

People magazine’s website www.people.com is reporting that the Hope for Haiti benefit telethon full of performances with the likes of Mary J. Blige, Sting, Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, etc. has raised $57 million dollars! That should buy a whole lot of hope, help, and HURRY–as in get to Haiti and help out! I’m pleased that so many people chipped in to assist this country. I wish them a speedy recovery and rebuilding.

You know I like Ron Artest–the controversial, spirited NBA player who is currently reppin’ the Lakers. Well, for you hip hop music lovers you probably remember him spitting on a Neptunes track a few years ago. In his 16 bars, he killed it. Well, Ron hasn’t lost a step. Here he is droppin some knowledge on Haiti.  I ain’t mad at a brotha for having more than one talent. Are you? Listen to the track…

**Thanks Rashaun for sharing the track with me.**

02 HAITI FEAT RON ARTEST ,WARIERS AND JUNE SUMMERS 1

After the aftershocks that Haiti suffered, I thought it was important to post this video from our first lady, Michelle Obama.

Amid accusations that his charity Yele is not on the up and up, recording superstar Wyclef Jean holds a press conference and defends it. Watch the video. It shouldn’t require that much concentration to tell the truth.

In his press conference, Wyclef said that his father told him that he’d be questioned for doing good. I wonder if his father ever mentioned that the truth always comes to the light… If we open businesses to be stewards of the people, let us honor that stewardship by doing the right thing. I’m just saying.